Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Dropkick Murphys On New Album “We’ve Got A Couple Songs That Are Like Pretty Ready To Go”

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Celtic-American punk rock band Dropkick Murphys formed in 1996 in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally the band just jammed for fun with a goal of blending the music they grew up with which included punk rock, Irish folk, rock and hardcore. It seems like a mess of genres to mix together but the sextet has created a genre all to themselves. Their band includes an array of different instruments that you won’t find on stage at a normal rock or hardcore show. Those include accordion, bagpipes, mandolin, bouzouki, keyboard, bodhran, piano, banjo, harmonica, tin whistle and then of course your everyday hard rocking guitar, bass, and drums. It helps that both Tim Brennan and Jeff DaRosa are multi-instrumentalists and can play 7 or more instruments each. In the bands storied career they have released 9 studio albums. The band’s first 5 albums were all released via independent punk record label Hellcat Records. Since 2007 the band has released everything on their own imprint label, Born & Bred via Alternative Distribution Alliance. Dropkick Murphys biggest hit thus far is “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” The track was featured on the start studded 2006 Academy Award-winning movie The Departed, and went on to become a Platinum-selling single. Dropkick Murphys is most well known for their super energetic live shows and are beloved in the city of Boston for their St. Patrick Day performances and their charity work in their local communities. The band’s charity The Claddagh Fund was founded by bassist and vocalist Ken Casey. Their mission statement states “The Claddagh Fund honors the three attributes of the Claddagh Ring: Friendship, Love & Loyalty. Our mission is to raise money for the most underfunded non-profit organizations that support the vulnerable populations in our communities.” For more information about the Claddagh Fund you can visit their website here. The band just wrapped up their headlining tour with support from Clutch, Hatebreed and Amigo The Devil. The band has been touring in support of their 2017 album “11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory.” Continue reading →

Review: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – ‘Atonement’ [Song Stream]

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If you’ve not heard of Killswitch Engage by now, number one: you are severely missing out on some of the best music out there, and number two: you definitely live under a rock. Killswitch has been releasing perfect album after album since 1999; they hail from Massachusetts. They are credited as one of the most successful bands from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement. They have continued to headline international tours and have massive festival appearances. “Atonement” will be their eight LP and the follow-up to the masterpiece, “Incarnate” from 2016. The aforementioned album will be their very first release via Metal Blade Records on August 16. Killswitch Engage is metalcore perfection. If it is not already obvious, KSE is one of my all time favorite bands and I may or may not have shed a tear whilst at their shows. 

As it should, “Atonement” begins with a roar- it really does! “Unleashed” is the opening track and the first single the band shared. The first thing that many Killswitch fans will recognize is how flawless singer, Jesse Leach’s vocals sound. Many know that he underwent vocal surgery last spring, and to say he’s made a recovery is an understatement. Perhaps some of his strongest recorded performances yet are found on the new album. “Unleashed” doesn’t particularly stray too far from the tried and true Killswitch Engage formula, but that’s okay because they do it so goddamn well. The song has a verse that sticks and a chorus that ends with a sick breakdown. What more could you need?

The second track is something that many KSE followers have dreamed about for years and it has finally happened. Jesse Leach and the band’s former frontman, Howard Jones (who should need no introduction at all, but it anyone was wondering, he currently fronts Light the Torch) on one song together. This, I believe, will solve all the worlds’ problems. “The Signal Fire” comes in hot, with a deathcore introduction and it’s thrashy in your face feel. The chorus is a total earworm with such conviction. Jesse and Howard together is every girls dream… or maybe it’s just mine? Regardless, these two sound perfect and this is a standout track. 

“The Crownless King,” is such a fist pumping pit starter. This one will go over extremely well live. A great mid tempo track with soaring vocals, “As Sure as the Sun Will Rise.” Of course it’s impossible to review “Atonement” without addressing the song with the first video from the record, “I Am Broken Too.” Leach has been very forthcoming with his personal struggles with mental health in past lyrics and this one is no acception. It’s stripped down and a little more simple and incredibly powerful. Killswitch Engage both on record and live, is a great balance. Songs like this one, and older tracks like “Arms of Sorrow” and “Rose of Sharyn” deal with heavy topics and then there are just some straight up bangers. The ever amusing guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz brings the comedic relief to their sets, dawning headbands that read, “TRASH” and spurting out lewd and insane remarks. Killswitch knows when it’s time to be serious and when it’s time to be Adam.  

Like every album before and like every album will be, “Atonement” is fantastic. Currently in first place for metalcore album of the year, curated by myself. It’s out August 16 on Metal Blade and currently up for preorder. A European tour is in order for the fall, but if you are in the states you can catch them (along with many others) at the first inaugural Exit 111 Festival in October, taking place in Tennessee. This record will not disappoint and if you haven’t seen Killswitch Engage live, you’re dead to me. 


 

State Of The Art: REPLACIRE [Full Album Stream]

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*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state*

This month’s state is Massachusetts’!

It’s time once again to shake off those Monday blues with an absolute earth-shaker of a band that are completely redefining the new-wave of technical death metal. Hailing from MA’s capital Boston are technical death metallers Replacire. Already described as “a new breath of life for the death metal genre”, Replacire have been taking the aggressiveness and complexity of modern death metal and infusing it with beautifully intricate progressive elements and technical complexity. Think of a masterminded cosmic mutation that would ensue from the intense atmosphere and progressiveness of Mikael Åkerfeldts Opeth, mixed with Obscuras and Beyond Creations technical virtuosity and death growls, with Katatonias haunting cleans and dynamacism. Whilst this may sound in print like it has been done to death (pun-intended), Replacire stand out from the sea of other technical metal artists and are certainly at the head of the pack. Who ever said that metal was dead clearly has no idea what they’re talking about, with young blood like this keeping death fresh and feeding our bloodthirsty desires, Replacire are redefining an already extensively innovative genre and they are certainly the ones to be keeping an eye on!

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LOST TO THE WAVES Premiere “Ghosts Of Autumn” [Exclusive Track Stream]

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Founded in 2011 Melodic death metal act Lost To The Waves are about to release their latest EP ‘Nightfall’ on March 31st. The follow up to their 2015 EP ‘Elegy’. The Massachusetts 5 piece don’t only want your attention they demand it with their fierce riffs and deadly to the core vocal approach. With their technical approach to deathcore they are easily one of the best up and coming bands in all of metal. Their upcoming EP was recorded by Sean Fitzpatrick at The Brick Hithouse, and it was mastered by the famed Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Four Year Strong, Defeater, Code Orange). Lost To The Waves are exclusively premiering the track “Ghosts Of Autumn” right here on Metal Nexus. The song begins with a somber tone but quickly delves into the bands much heavier style. The band showcases riff’centric style along with those deep harsh vocals they are known for. The technical aspects of the guitar playing is mesmerizing as they dance around inside your ear drums. Lost To The Waves showcase the perfect ratio of vocals and instrumentation. Allowing each the appropriate amount of time shine. This track is just a snippet of what’s to come on this EP. March 31st can’t come soon enough for most fans to get their hands on this release. Until then use “Ghosts Of Autumn” as an appetizer until we can feast our ears on ‘Nightfall’ in its entirety. Continue reading →